Thank
you for your support of ADARC's mission to find solutions to the
HIV/AIDS epidemic through scientific research. We want to share some of
the scientific progress taking place in our laboratories, and hope you
will enjoy being a part of future breakthroughs.

Recent
studies have shown that antiviral drugs can protect against HIV
infection if taken daily. However, the adherence challenges of such a
demanding regimen may limit their feasibility. The use of monoclonal
antibodies that can be administered less frequently would create a
much-needed alternative in the field of HIV prevention. Dr. Ho's
laboratory has been working to develop ibalizumab, an antibody that
binds to the CD4 cell receptor, for HIV prevention since 2009. A phase 1
trial to evaluate its safety in healthy individuals is underway, with
plans to advance it into a phase 2a trial in the next year.

Dr.
Ho and colleagues will engineer bi-specific molecules where ibalizumab
is genetically fused to other HIV-neutralizing antibody-like molecules.
By doing so, his lab is striving to improve the breadth, potency and
long-lasting effect of traditional monoclonal antibodies in order to
create an HIV preventive that could be administered once every two
months. Scientists will develop and test different molecules in the
laboratory in order to identify the most potent and broad-acting to
advance into tests in animals. The selected molecule will then be
manufactured for formal preclinical studies with the goal of preparing
the lead candidate for a Phase 1 clinical trial.

In
parallel, the team will work to develop a gene-transfer method so that
DNA encoding the bi-specific molecules can be injected directly into a
healthy person, then use the body's own cells to produce the
HIV-protective molecules. This new technology will allow for an
even longer-lasting and more cost-efficient product which would have a
huge impact, especially in the developing world.

"If
successful, these novel molecules have the potential to change the face
of HIV prevention and generate antiviral agents that are safe,
long-lasting, and incredibly potent. We are grateful to the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation for supporting our pursuit of this exciting and
promising strategy," said Dr. Ho

Everyday Heroes in the Battle Against HIV/AIDS

Dr. David Ho and others at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS in the United States are featured in Around the World, an online series hosted by journalist Christiane Amanpour.

Dr.
Ho talks about his experience battling HIV and the trials that led to
the major breakthrough of combination therapy. He also warns
against the complacency brought on by effective treatment, and the fact
that the epidemic continues in the United States. This two-part series
also discusses the worldwide epidemic.

ADARC Assistant Professor Masahiro Yamashita, PhD
has received a Research Project Grant from the National Institutes of
Health to support his work to elucidate the mechanism used by HIV to
penetrate the nucleus of resting CD4 Cells and macrophages, non-dividing
cells that play critical roles in HIV transmission, persistence in the body and disease progression .

Dr.
Yamashita and his colleagues will explore the correlation between HIV's
capsid, a protein which holds the viral RNA, and the host molecule
TNPO3. This relationship is essential to HIV nuclear entry and
replication in host cells. Dr. Yamashita's team will also analyze HIV
capsid evolution in patients who are associated with slow disease
progression. Finally, he will combine his data with a macaque model of
HIV to address the importance of nuclear entry in vivo.

Private support is
vital to ADARC's mission - it allows rapid exploration of new
ideas before they can attract government funding. We count on your
support to sustain an agile and creative research environment.

Thank you for your interest in ADARC's work. Our new
institutional brochure, which summarizes our history, research programs
and achievements is now available. You can read it online or to request a printed copy, please call (212) 448-5069.